Queens Park Rangers have unearthed a diamond in Ebere Eze this season, but the early hype has slowed down. What’s the problem surrounding the youngster?

Eze, a product of the Millwall academy, has been with QPR since August 2016.

He was released by the Lions aged 17 and was due to start work in a local Tesco in spite of football.

But he trialled with QPR before he started to stack shelves and impressed Technical Director Chris Ramsey enough to earn a professional contract with the West Londoners.

Now in his fourth full-season at the club, Eze under new manager Mark Warburton has taken his game to the next level.

He’s already beaten his goals return from last season and looks set to have a fruitful season in-front of goal.

But a problem with Eze, which has been a recurring issue with the player since he burst onto the scene at the club, is that he goes missing far too often in games.

The weekend’s draw against Boro was a prime example of the player that Eze is - one minute he’ll turn three or four defenders and take the ball all the way into their box, but then he won’t see the ball for another half-hour.

Whether it’s Eze or his teammates not getting the ball to him enough, the only thing standing between him and stardom is form.

In fairness, Eze’s downturn in recent weeks has coincided with his team's performances - QPR are winless in four going into the international break, where they sit 10th in the Championship table.

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They were in and around the play-off places for much of the start of the season but have since fallen out of contention, with Brentford leapfrogging them with their weekend win away at Wigan.

Though QPR are still four points off a play-off spot, it seems that aspiration is one to keep for next year.

Nobody expected Warburton's QPR to start the way they have, and ensuring their Championship status for next season was always the goal for the former Bees boss.

A promotion this season, as unlikely and commendable as it would be, would definitely be a season too early for QPR who are still in a rebuilding phase after their summer overhaul.

Eze is the star of the show at QPR and can, and likely will go onto to achieve great things in football.

While he’s still young at 21, his manager will want to start seeing his best on a more regular basis, and live up to the hype that fans so quickly throw on him.